With a brush to the front in the backstretch, odds-on favourite Outlawgrabbingears got the jump on his competition and maintained control through the wire to win the second $17,100 division of three for the Alberta Sires Stakes Rising Star events by a neck in 1:56.2 on the stakes-laden program at Century Downs on Saturday, Aug. 18.
Hf Thegreatpumpkin took the lead from I Ama Rocket opting for the pocket. Passing the quarter in :29.4, Outlawgrabbingears continued to chase positioned third about four lengths from the top by the half in :59.2.
Trainer-driver Paul Davies tipped off the cones moving to the backstretch and swiftly took command from Hf Thegreatpumpkin heading to three-quarters, opening a four-length margin in 1:27.4 and moving to the top of the stretch. I Ama Rocket, circumventing the faltering pacesetter, gradually reeled in Outlawgrabbingears through the stretch drive but finished a neck back at the wire. Senga Savannah, riding the rail, finished third nine lengths away.
Owned by Paul Davies, Nicole Cecchin and Deborah Pinel, Outlawgrabbingears, by Smart Shark from the Artsplace mare Grand Slam Woman, won his second race in three starts, earning $21,550. He paid $2.90 to win.
Crackle N Burn circled to the lead past the quarter and blew away his competition with an 11-length victory as the 1-2 favourite in the $17,100 first division of the Rising Star.
Go Nine O secured the early lead and had a neck in front by the quarter in :29.4 before Crackle N Burn advanced to the lead. The favourite continued unchallenged on the top through a half in :58.3 and three-quarters in 1:28.3 as Go Nine O chased in second. Ahead by six lengths into the stretch, Crackle N Burn expanded his margin while Kootenay Lager, towards the center of the course, took second from Loaded Deck between horses third. Go Nine O faded to fourth.
A colt by Blue Burner from the Camcracker mare Crackers Hot Shot, Crackle N Burn, owned and trained by Rodney Starkewski, won his first race in three starts, earning $15,425. Philip Giesbrecht steered the $3.00 winner.
Dashing to the front, Bad Moon Rising wired his competition in the $17,400 third division of the Rising Star by three lengths in 1:58.3.
Bad Moon Rising paced by the quarter in :28.3 ahead of Hf Shadow Racer in the pocket and Rock N Roll Dragon third. Unchallenged through a :59.2 half, Bad Moon Rising opened his lead as Hf Shadow Racer dropped back and Chase Me Forever advanced wide by three-quarters in 1:29.2. The 6-5 favourite continued on the lead into the stretch to secure victory while Chase Me Forever took second two lengths ahead of Crash Dive, off a rail trip, third.
Winning his second race in four starts, Bad Moon Rising, a colt by Riverboat King from the As Promised mare Miss Conduct, is trained by Harold Haining for owner Donald Richardson. Paul Davies drove the $4.50 winner.
A trio of Alberta Starlet divisions were carded on the Saturday afternoon program, the first Alberta Sires Stakes event of the season for the freshmen fillies. Despite having limited knowledge of the horses in the three splits, the betting choices delivered in each of the divisions.
Maxsamian made every call a winning one in her $16,800 Alberta Starlet division. Driver Dave Kelly positioned the pacer on the front through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.2 and 1:30.4 before sprinting home in :29 to trip the timer in 1:59.4. Lollipop Yacht (Kelly Hoerdt) took a run at the leader heading to the third quarter but that challenge was vigorously rebuffed. Lollipop Yacht would be best of the rest in second, four and a half lengths back of the winner, with Bearcat Romi (Jamie Gray) another ten behind the runner-up.
Rod Starkewski trains and Morrine Kennedy of Calgary, Alta. owns Maxsamian (Mystery Chase - Indigo Blue), now a two-time victress in three lifetime starts.
Gin Twist followed that front-end advice in her $17,100 Alberta Starlet divison and also ended up in the winner's circle after the race. Driver Paul Davies allowed Crystal Dragon (Tony Succarotte) a brief and uncharted lead after the gate folded, took control of the race before the :30.2 quarter and was never in doubt from then on. Up more than two after a :59.3 half, Gin Twist opened up her lead with every stride down the Century backside. A four-length advantage at the 1:30.4 third station became a six-length cushion turning for home. She cruised under wire a wrapped-up winner in 2:01, more than four lengths better than Cenalta Glory (Rene Goulet). Outlaw Hawaiifiveo (J.F. Gagne) completed the top three.
Gin Twist (Vertical Horizon - Red Star Ginny) notched her maiden-breaking victory in her third career start. Harold Haining trains Gin Twist for owner Don Richardson of Cochrane, Alta.
Mrs Suhwiggins may have been last in the early going in the third and final $17,100 Alberta Starlet division, but she definitely wasn't last when it counted. Western Summit (Keith Clark) carved out the opening :30.1 quarter and 1:00.4 half. Sitting seventh at the opening quarter, driver Paul Davies started an overland attack just before the half, powered three-wide around HF White Lightning (Gerry Schedlosky) down the backside and cleared to the lead before hitting the third quarter in 1:30.4. From there, Mrs Suhwiggins opened her lead with each powerful stride. The win margin was more than seven and the mile time was clocked in 2:00.1.
Mrbssweetpea (Phil Giesbrecht) and Western Summit completed the triactor.
J J J Stables of Prince George, B.C. owns the Jim Marino-trained Mrs Suhwiggins (Custard The Dragon - Michelles Fury), now unbeaten in two lifetime starts.
In non-stakes action, Her Own Land upset the apple cart in the $9,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace. The longest shot on the board in the morning line at 15-1 went off at 10-1 but raced like a 1-9 favourite. Phil Giesbrecht allowed the seven-year-old Blissfull Hall mare to push the gate away and then do all the work with an impressive gate-to-wire 1:55.1 score. Favoured Tajmeallover (Gagne) and assigned outside starter Thats It (Rod Hennessy) were next best.
Blaine Chappell conditions 27-time winner Her Own Land (Blissfull Hall - Her Own Art) for owner Paul Sanders of Surrey, B.C.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.